Check out the darling FREE Party Printables from Whimsically Detailed here.

Back To School Party Details:

This is what Miranda said about planning the party- “Last year I had the pleasure of putting together a Back To School Party for a local women’s shelter here.

I had decided to do a giveaway a little differently than ones previously done. I wanted to give back. I wanted to give a child in need a party in a box…. little did I know that this letter would land in my inbox and change all my plans (but in a blessed way) Here is a piece from the letter I received..

“I know a small shelter that has homeless children and their moms who would love to have a party like this. I want to give my daughter the world and every positive experience I can, but at the same time I want to nominate them instead. She may not ever have an elaborate party like the one offered, but she will never go without at least a cake. I don’t know what those other kids have had to do without. Visitation Houseis a great place because they help single mothers get educated so they can make a better life for themselves and their children. It is really life changing for them. I hope you will consider them for the party.”

I looked up and did some research on theVisitation Houseand they are such a blessing for women and their children!

Their mission is fulfilled by the Visitation House two-year transitional housing and education program which provides the opportunity and the means for homeless single mothers and their children to achieve self-sufficiency and independence through its focus on education as foundational to ending the cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Planning an event for that many children is no little cost and I have to say that I have met some pretty amazing people along this journey. Some donated money and some donated their products and ALL did it without a blink of an eye for a group of children they will never meet. We all understand that when we change one child’s view of the world we changes hundred’s more down the line.

I wanted to do a Back to School theme since the children were about to start school and I had wanted them to start with lots of new items! So we centered the theme on school. I didn’t want too bright of colors since there were older children in the mix as well as young. I created a fabric bunting for the table along with props to hold up the treats. I purchased the papier-mâché books from Hobby Lobby and spray painted them to match the theme. I hot glued them together to help them stay in a stacking place. I also used scrapbook paper on the cupcake stand to match as well! Painted berry baskets held many treats and I even had some cardboard building blocks sent to me that I glued together and used as the cake pop stand! While at Hobby Lobby I found these huge pencils that I used on either side of the table too! My favorite part of the children’s table were the chalkboard placemats that the kids could doodle on at their pleasure and the gumball tubes that looked like pencils. They even had favor boxes shaped like apples and school buses that contained even more treats. Each child also received their own personalized backpack filled with lots of school supplies. All in all I think they were set for school!

With all the donations added up we had collected over $750 for the children’s gifts. I don’t think there are words to express the gratitude. The smiles and looks on the children’s faces when they saw the gifts was so overwhelming.

My photographer friend Sandra fromSandra Bludau Photography offered her assistance in taking photos that day and even got her sister and nieces joined in to help. The sister’s all joined in as well with the set up. Without them I don’t think I would have been able to bring it all together! I hope you enjoy the photos and remember that this is a nonprofit organization and they only survive on donations from the public.

Thank you again to everyone who made this happen. To the folks who dealt with the nonstop postings of asking for this or for that for the day…. please know that there are no words that can express my gratitude in allowing me the ability to create this blessed day for these children.

4 thoughts on “Back to School Themed Birthday Party + Free Printables”

Please feel free to ask questions or leave comments

This is such a cool blog, I cannot wait to use some of the ideas for my next School themed party with my band Jamie and the first class party band
W have done some brilliant events but these back to school ideas are totally brillaint, I especially love the report cards!!